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Health Care

Recommended Practices in Caring for Alpacas:

(Sources: Camelid Community Standards of Care Working Group*and general farm experience.) 

INTRODUCTION
NUTRITION
HUSBANDRY
BODY SCORING
MENINGEAL_WORM

Introduction:

      Alpacas are domesticated South American members of the camelid family. These animals differ significantly from other species. Beyond the minimums required to sustain any life, the specifications for their care are unique. Alpacas can thrive in a wide range of environments, from ranches with vast open ranges to small suburban properties, and in almost every type of climate and geography. Some live in dry lot conditions and exist entirely on nutrition provided by their owners, while others live on properties with abundant pasture. These animals thrive in an environment where the relationship with humans and other animals is peaceful, basic
security is provided, and life activities that fit their nature are included. With proper care from responsible stewards, alpacas and llamas typically enjoy good health, with an average lifespan of 15 to 20+ years.
     This information was gathered prepared with addition and assistance of a number of experienced llama and alpaca owners, including practices from our own farm, most of which has been reviewed by veterinarians and representatives of various recognized llama and alpaca organizations. It contains recommended practices based on up-to-date scientific knowledge and community-wide husbandry expertise. It is intended as an educational foundation for recommended camelid care and, as such, to provide the basis for continuity and consistency in that care. In all cases, please consult with your local vetrinarian for your specific need.
      In addition to the general practice recommendations, region-specific conditions may exist, necessitating additional or differing measures in those locales to insure the health and well-being of the animals. Where available, a camelid-experienced veterinarian should be consulted for local or regional needs. Additionally, consider joining one or more llama and/or alpaca organizations for continuing education, networking and local owner support. The references provided at the end of this document give more detailed and extensive coverage for various aspects of camelid care.
     All animals deserve the best possible environment in which to thrive. There are many “right” ways to assure this. The purpose of "Recommended Practices" is to provide basic and important information on providing that environment for llamas and alpacas, beyond minimum requirements. Each camelid caregiver will have his or her practices to assure animal well-being, based on knowledge of the herd individuals, as well as sound husbandry. 

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Nutrition:

Questions we need to ask ourselves:

1. What do they need? Simply to survive, not very much. On the Altiplano, of Chile, Peru, and Bolivia they subsist on anything from lush grass during the rainy season to very little ground coverage for a good portion of the year. They have to breed for cria births during the rainy season so that the females will have enough milk to keep the cria alive.
Because of the value of these animals in North America, we are not content to have the mortality rates of South America, I learned while visiting Peru with Dr. Purdy, and Dr. Dewitt, that 30% of the cria do not live beyond one month of age. The fertility rates, are also quite high,  reportedly anywhere from 30% to 50%. There are those who believe that, when it comes to alpacas, because they are hardy animals, that less is better.  A well known Veterinarian from Kentucky, completed a study of 22,000 Llamas and 3,000 Alpacas across 27 states. He concluded that 80% of Lama medical problems are nutrition related. He noted, that breeders with 10 to 15 years experience were losing animals due to malnutrition.
We must however not get carried away with the thought of feeding our animals well, to the point of overfeeding. Some alpacas will over eat and become fat if given the opportunity, Overfed alpaca can also   reduce greatly the quality of their fiber.

The best information we have to date, has been published by Dr. LaRue Johnson DVM. of Veterinary Clinics of North America. Added to this information are levels published by Dr. Murray Fowler and Dr. Brian Evans. The levels of key elements in total diet are:

An alpaca will eat in the order of 1.5% to 2% of their body weight per day. At 2% a 150 lb. alpaca will eat about 1.4 kg of food per day.

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2. What are they getting from pastures and hay? We need to analyze the grass/pasture and hay to determine the need for and types of supplements that are required for our alpacas. With this information and the above information we can do the calculations necessary. Results from a sample forage analysis coming soon.

3. Supplementation: If you ask people if they feed their alpacas a supplement about 95% will say "yes", and of those about 60% will say "in the winter". If you ask what they supplement you will hear all kinds of answers, but mostly you will hear grain, Alpaca/Llama Pellets, our own grain mixture, Free choice minerals, mineral blocks.
If you want to feed grain, first of all make sure that it is cracked or preferably rolled, Alpacas don't digest whole grain very well, and secondly know why you are feeding it. When feeding grain, you are adding a carbohydrate for extra energy or heat (in winter) and with some grains a small amount of protein. Grains are deficient in Calcium, Phosphorus and trace minerals.
If you wish to use free choice minerals you must understand that you are going to get a very wide range of results in your animals. There are some alpacas that will eat up to 50 grams of a mineral powder or more, per day, and many will eat none at all. If the aim is to supplement say 2 mg of selenium/alpaca/day and your free choice mineral supplement has 125mg/kg you better hope the largest consumer of that product does not eat more than 15 to 20 grams a day, and if the product has a low of 30 mg/kg you have to hope that the one that consumes the least amount of the product eats at least 60 grams/day. In reality it is hard to determine exactly what your animals are getting on an individual basis.
The trick to uniform supplementation is to provide the required elements, in the right concentrations, in a prepared feed, such as pellets, that the alpacas want to eat so that they will get their share.
First it is best to analyze the hay, then after doing some calculations, you can specifications, to bring all the elements in line with requirements, and it is accurately measured and fed in individual portions. A trace mineral salt block is made available but with over 50 alpacas having access to the blocks they consume only about 1/3 of a block in a year, so the trace minerals from the salt block is insignificant and does not enter into our calculations. We make it available for the salt.

4. To determine if what we are doing is OK we do periodic blood sampling. We routinely sample alpacas that are either on the low or high end of the scale, for any particular elements, compared to our other alpacas, along with random samples from other alpacas. We do a mineral panel of seven elements, with occasional add ons such as zinc.
When making a change to the diet with specific results in mind, we give it about 2 or 3 months before doing the next set of blood samples to see if the change has given us the desired result.

Reasons that nutrition is so important:
Viable birth weights
Proper growth rates
Proper development of all body parts, eg. Straight legs etc.
Disease resistance
Eliminates the need for injections re selenium, vitamins E,A,&D
Healthy skin, thus proper follicle and fibre alignment.

Gives the animals genes the ability to live up to their full potential. Geneticists tell us that genes are responsible for about 60% of the animals makeup, the rest is environment.

Other Practices to follow: 
1. Provide continuous access to potable water. The animals should not be required to break through ice or eat snow for their water. In extreme heat, water that is cool to the touch encourages consumption and helps avoid dehydration. In extreme cold, lukewarm water does the same. Consider periodic water-quality testing.
2. Provide daily access to quality, mold-free hay and/or nutritious pasture. In general for adult maintenance, total feed should contain 10-12% crude protein, dry matter basis, offered at the rate of 1.5%-3% of body weight. Growing youngsters and late term pregnant or early lactating females may need 12-16% crude protein, dry matter basis. This may be obtained by using forage with higher protein content and/or a high-protein supplement. Because of subtle differences, llamas require the lower levels of protein while alpacas requirements are higher. However, individual animals can require more or less feed. Use Body Condition Scoring (BCS) (see reference below) and consult with a veterinarian or animal nutritionist to determine
individual needs.

3. If not pre-mixed into a supplemental feed being offered, provide free choice access to minerals appropriate for the species and the region. (A loose form is preferred.) Take any known mineral toxicities into consideration (e.g., copper, selenium).

4. To feed a cria that requires human intervention, by utilizing a feeding tube or bottle regimen that minimizes human bonding. Supplemental feeding by humans should be done only when medically necessary and the cria should continue to reside with its mother and/or the herd to ensure appropriate behavioral development. Inappropriate animal-human bonding may result in severe behavior problems.

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Physical Environment:

1. Provide natural or man-made shelter with sufficient ventilation and space to allow each llama and alpaca to find relief from environmental conditions (e.g., extreme cold, heat, humidity, precipitation, wind chill, waterlogged ground/standing water during periods of wet weather).
2. Provide a heating source or cooling measures when temperatures reach extremes, whether at home or traveling. Heat stress (hyperthermia) and hypothermia are life-threatening conditions. (See "Safekeeping" section for more information.)
3. In enclosed areas, manure should be routinely disposed of, mud prevented, and any urine build-up treated to prevent parasite problems and disease.
4. Provide fencing of sufficient height and strength to safely contain alpacas in designated areas. Fencing design should prevent animals from becoming entangled. Barbed wire is not recommended. 
5. House only the number of animals per enclosure that allows free and independent movement of each animal when not at work with a human, as well as the ability to exercise each day. Physical location and conditions (i.e., terrain, vegetation, availability of pasture, etc.), as well as herd composition (males, weanlings, females, etc.) will dictate the appropriate number of animals that can live within a defined area. As a general rule of thumb, an area of 15 square feet per alpaca would be a minimum.
6. Alpacas are browsing and grazing animals. Where possible, provide them the opportunity to browse and graze daily.
7. In temporary situations such as at shows, or in case of health problems, alpacas may be kept in small spaces for a limited period of time. For longer periods (e.g., animals that are in quarantine), they should be exercised each day.

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Social Environment:

1. Alpacas need to live in association with other herd animals, preferably at least one other alpaca. Without appropriate companionship, most will fail to thrive. Therefore, it is recommended that alpacas never live alone. An alpaca should not be raised as a single baby away from any other camelids.  
2. Alpha or highly territorial males may need to be corralled separately, but should be within sight of other alpacas.
3. Crias should remain with their dams until at least four months of age. (Six months is recommended to promote normal behavior and to assure good nutrition (allow for maturation of the fore-stomach)). When deprived of this herd environment during their growth and development, they can develop severely abnormal ways of relating
to humans at sexual maturity or earlier.

5. Crias should never be sold as pets to be intentionally bottle-fed. Bottle-feeding should take place in a herd environment and only when medically necessary to ensure the health of the dam and/or the cria.

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Routine Husbandry:

What is A Parasite?

A parasite is an organism that grows, feeds, and is sheltered on or in another type of organism while contributing nothing to the survival of its host. In this instance, the host is our alpacas although all other livestock become the hosts for parasites too.  There are two classifications of parasites that affect our alpacas. The first one is Internal parasites – parasites that live and feed inside the alpaca’s body.  These are most often different varieties of worms that live and multiply in the small intestine or the stomach of the alpaca.  The second classification is External parasites – those that live and feed off the outside of the alpaca’s body.  Some examples of external parasites are ticks, flies, mosquitoes, lice, and mites.

Affects of Internal Parasites

There are many types of internal parasites known that infect alpacas and keeping our alpacas safe from these parasites is a year-round job for the alpaca owner.  If parasites are not controlled, the alpaca can become unhealthy and unthrifty.  A heavy load of parasites can cause the alpaca to become sickly and lose weight since the worms living in the alpaca steal a lot of the nutrition that is needed by the alpaca.  Internal parasites can be a severe problem to alpacas sometimes even causing death.

Preventive Measures
    
Herd Management,  Pasture Management,  Soil Management

Good herd management is the primary prevention of parasite problems. A good nutritional program and awareness of the overall health of your animals is the first basic, but very important, step. Parasites are more likely to seek out and attack weak or failing animals. Good sanitation, pasture rotation, and the weather also play a big part in the control of parasites on your farm.  The weather can make a big difference in parasites on your farm. Many think the winter’s cold temperatures kill the parasites, but in fact the summer heat is more effective in killing parasites.

The Life Cycle Of Parasites

Without proper management, the internal parasites become a constant cycle.  The worms live inside the alpaca getting nutrition from the alpaca’s body.  When the worms are adult, they lay eggs. The eggs get passed out of the alpaca in their feces, or manure, and end up in the pasture. Then the eggs either hatch into larva in the manure or on the ground.  Rain then washes the manure off of the larva and the larva is left to live on the blades of grass.  Then a alpaca may swallow the larva while grazing. Once inside the nice environment of a warm alpaca, the eggs and larva will mature into adults in about three weeks.  These adults now lay more eggs and the cycle starts all over again. So if the alpaca owner does not practice good de-worming herd management, the animals will eventually have a very heavy load of adult parasites. Carrying a heavy load of internal parasites also means a alpaca is getting only partial value from his food.

What about the alpacas that are wild in the mountains of South America and don’t have owners to de-worm them?  Why don’t they get sickly from parasites? alpacas that are out in the wild travel a large area while grazing and browsing.   So, since they are moving from area to area, most of the time they are in new, clean grasses that do not contain eggs and larvae so they are not ingesting eggs.  Our alpaca herds here are often in smaller confined areas and if there are too many alpacas for the area (over crowded pastures), then the chance of having parasites is much greater.

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Common Internal Parasites That Affect Alpacas

The most common signs of internal parasites are generally diarrhea and weight loss.  These are some of the most common internal parasites that we encounter here in the Midwest area.

Trichuris - Commonly known as Whipworms in the Intestine; The eggs of this species may survive for years. More commonly called Whipworm, this worm lives in the large intestine of the alpaca.  The eggs are passed in the feces and the larva develops inside of the eggs.  These eggs may survive for years.  When eaten by the alpaca or the host, the eggs hatch in the small intestine and then migrate into the large intestine and develop into adults.  The adults then lay eggs to continue the life cycle.

Moniezia - Commonly known as Tapeworm. A long tapeworm passed in a soft stool. The head of a tapeworm.  The adult is a long, white, flat worm that is in segments. A small single segment of the tapeworm. This is what you will normally see in the alpaca poop that looks like a grain or rice. The flat tapeworm stretched out. This is not the complete worm as some segments have come off. The adult tapeworm is a white flat worm that is in segments. The tapeworm attaches to the wall of the alpaca’s small intestine. Segments, or pieces of the tapeworm, which contain eggs, are passes into the feces and may be seen in the alpaca’s manure. They will look like small grains of rice. The eggs are then eaten by the oribatid mite, an intermediate host.  This mite lives on the grass or on the feces and contains the tapeworm larvae.  Now the mite is eaten by the alpaca while eating pasture grasses.  The larvae attach to the alpaca’s intestinal wall, mature into adults, and continue the life cycle.

Trichostrongylus - Commonly known as stomach worm. Strongyle Egg. These eggs develop rapidly, hatching in less than twenty hours in summer temperatures (70 - 80 degrees F.) If the eggs dry out before they hatch they become dormant and can survive for as long as 15 months. It is not often possible to identify strongyle eggs to genus level as the eggs of most strongylid and trichostrongylid species are similar in appearance and overlapping in size. If identification is necessary the fecal sample must be cultured to provide L3 larvae for further examination. These are very small stomach worms that live in the small intestine of the alpaca. The eggs are passed in the feces. They hatch and develop into larvae in the soil and in the feces.  The alpaca may then eat these larvae from the soil or from their feed or water.  The larvae grow to adulthood in the stomach and small intestine.

Nematodirus (thread-necked strongyle) These eggs hatch very rapidly in wet weather. Cool, wet weather and lush, moist pastures are ideal conditions for eggs to live.

The eggs of this parasite are very large and are distinctive under the microscope. They are very sturdy eggs and may even survive the winter in the feces or the soil. The larvae develop inside of the egg and may survive for several months in the soil or in vegetation. The alpaca then eats the larvae on the pasture grasses which then mature into adults in the alpaca’s small intestine.

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Eimeria (Coccidia) - Coccidia are tiny one-celled organisms which multiply in the intestinal tract of many animals. The resulting disease, called coccidiosis, is most common in young animals or animals that are stressed – possibly from moving to a new farm. The disease is more common in the fall and winter months. Coccidia are spread in the feces of an infected animal and most commonly exists when animals are overcrowded into small areas or where unsanitary conditions exist. However an animal must ingest a large number of coccidia organisms in order to get sick.  If an animal ingests only a small amount, he probably will not get sick and it will produce immunity to this disease. The main sign of coccidiosis is diarrhea.  Depending on the level of infection, the diarrhea may become severe and blood may be present. Then the animal becomes depressed, loses weight, becomes dyhydrated, and may become very sick. Death can occur. Corid is the most common treatment for coccidiosis and can be given by mouth or in the drinking water.

Parelaphostrongylus  - Meningeal worm - Meningeal Worm is a great concern to alpaca owners in areas in the east where white-tailed deer have a heavy population. Although we have white-tailed deer in Indiana, luckily this doesn’t seem to be a very large problem here. This is a natural parasite which lives in, but does not affect, white-tailed deer. The worm is passed from an infected deer through its feces and then must pass through another developmental stage in a snail or slug. The disease CANNOT be passed without the ingestion of an infected snail or slug. The alpaca then may inadvertently ingest the snail when browsing and become infected. The worm migrates into the central nervous system causing neurological abnormalities in the alpaca.  Signs of Meningeal Worm include staggering, paralysis, dragging of rear legs, and blindness. If aggressive treatment is not begun immediately, death may occur.

Meningeal Worm in Alpaca:
Meningeal worm is a parasite that affects alpacas. Read the questions and answers below to become informed about this parasite.

What is meningeal worm? A parasite whose natural host is the white-tailed deer.

How does my alpaca get m. worm? First, you must reside in an area where white-tailed deer exist. Eggs hatch in a deers lungs. The larvae are coughed up and swallowed by the deer. The larvae are then passed to the feces and excreted onto the ground. The larvae find an intermediate host in snails and slugs. Your alpaca ingests the infected snail or slug. Once the larvae are in the stomach, they penetrate the stomach wall and enter spinal nerves. Then they travel to the spinal cord or brain.

What are the symptoms of meningeal worm infection? Some of the symptoms seen might be: Rear leg weakness, lameness, uncoordinated gate, stiffness, paraplegia, paralysis, circling, abnormal head tilt, blindness, gradual weight loss, inability to eat.

Can m. worm kill my alpaca? Yes. Damage to the central nervous system can be severe enough to cause death.

How is the parasite detected? There is no definitive way to detect it in a live animal. Symptoms and lab values are used to diagnose m. worm.

How is m. worm treated once an alpaca is infected? Usually, some type of dewormer is used to kill the parasite. Steroids and anti-inflammatories are used to prevent inflammation and swelling from damaging the spinal cord. Supportive care is, also, used in the form of physical therapy. Keeping blood flow to muscles by massaging helps keep them healthy and allows the animal to recover better.

Will my alpaca recover completely? Depends on how much damage was done. Once the larvae migrate into the nervous tissue, any damage that occurs is usually irreversible.

Can an infected alpaca pass the meningeal worm to other alpacas? Your alpaca must ingest an infected snail or slug to get m. worm. Alpacas are considered a dead-end host. The larvae in alpacas do not mature and produce eggs that mature into larvae that pass out of the animal. They stay in the central nervous system.

How do I prevent meningeal worm in my alpacas? Prevention is the key. The current practice has been to give a dose of Ivermectin every 30 days to alpacas in areas with white-tailed deer. However, overuse of Ivermectin has resulted in increasing drug resistance among parasites in alpacas. Work with your vet. Your worming program should be tailored to your individual farm and geographic area. You can put up a deer-proof fence with a gravel or paved area along the outside of the fence to attempt to keep snails and slugs out of your pastures. This is expensive. You can use a molluscicide, but it might be poisonous to your alpacas, so be careful.

Your vet should have up-to-date information to prevent meningeal worm infections.

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Controlling The Parasite Problem

As part of preventive health maintenance for alpacas, owners de-worm them with various medications on a proper deworming schedule. Controlling the number of eggs and infective larva that a alpaca consumes is the starting point of any effective de-worming program. The de-worming schedule is important as well as the type and dosage of medication administered.

When de-worming, the entire herd should receive the medication – except for those females that are within 60 days of birthing or within 60 days of breeding.  (Females in this stage should not receive any medications whatsoever.) Then after approximately three days the pastures should be cleaned of the manure on the ground to prevent the alpacas from re-infecting themselves with parasite eggs in the pasture. The eggs take 3-4 days to mature so you have that length of time to remove manure from the contaminated pastures. This will greatly decrease the chances of new infections. Or, another good method is pasture rotation: put the animals into a new, clean pasture until the first pasture is cleaned and sun dried.

However de-worming is not the only effective way to help control parasites. Managing your alpaca’s environment is one of the best strategies for parasite control. Since the major objective is preventing pastures from being contaminated with worm eggs, manure removal from their barn areas and pastures will greatly help in breaking up the parasite life cycles. When cleaning pastures, although not all the manure may be able to be removed, the manure is getting raked and broken up, so on hot, dry days, the sun dries out the eggs and larvae and they die. Parasitic larva in manure in the sunlight dries out whereas larva in manure in moist, damp, dark areas survive for months. Cool, wet weather and lush, moist pastures are ideal conditions for eggs to live.

Hay racks, feed dishes, water buckets, and automatic waterers should be regularly cleaned to prevent any possibility of parasites living there. alpacas should not be fed on the ground, as this would increase the likelihood of alpacas infecting themselves with parasites that may be living on ground vegetation. To check how effective your parasite management program is you can have your veterinarian check your alpaca’s feces for parasite eggs.

Some infective larva, such as Nematodirus and Trichurs, can even become dormant over the winter and survive temperatures to 20 below zero. Then they can become infective again about one month after pastures begin new growth in April and May. For this reason, only third generation wormers that are larvacidal are recommended for treatment.  Examples are Ivermectin, Oxbendazole (Synanthic), and Albendazole (Valbazen). A third generation wormer attacks the eggs, the larva, and the adults. Panacur or Safeguard is only effective for adult worms and does not affect the larva. Ivermectin or Dectomax is mainly effective on Brown Stomach Worms and Meningeal Worm. Both Valbazen and Synanthic address Nematodirus and Trichurs.  Strongyles normally will respond to Fenbendalzole (Panacue or Safeguard) or Ivermectin.

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Common External Parasites

The most common aggravation in the barnyard, flies, seem to go hand in hand with raising animals. However there are some effective methods of control. Although primarily an annoyance, flies may cause problems such as eye irritations from feeding on tears, painful bites, and carrying disease from one animal to another. Manure removal is the most effective aspect of fly control since so many flies need manure for their eggs. A fly repellant is most helpful on the legs of the alpaca.  Disposable fly traps, although quite smelly, can be hung around the area and can be quite effective trapping adult flies. Thousands of adult flies can be trapped per trap - and that’s thousands that do not lay eggs and multiply! Natural predators can also be very beneficial in the reduction of flying critters such as flies and mosquitoes. Barn Swallows and Purple Martins both eat flying insects. It is claimed that Purple Martins eat as many as 2,000 mosquitoes a day.  A bat house may also attract bats to your property which are beneficial in reducing flying insects at night.

Other external parasites include mites, ticks, and lice. A mite, whose entire life cycle is spent on the animal, burrows into the outer layer of tender skin areas with thin hair coats such as the face, belly, chest, and legs causing Sarcoptic Mange. The area develops hairless spots, dandruff, scabs, and becomes crusty. It may or may not itch. As it develops, the skin becomes thick, crusty, and leather-like. Ivermectin injections are used as treatment as well as an external dousing of the area with a parasite control.

Two types of lice may infest alpacas - the biting lice and the sucking lice.

The sucking lice feed entirely on blood and can cause anemia and spread disease. They prefer the head, neck and withers area where they actually imbed in the skin. Treatment is Ivomec injected 1cc/110 lbs. Biting lice nibble on hair and debris on the skin surface and can be seen with the naked eye when disrupted. They are found most often by the base of the tail or the side of the neck. Biting lice may be treated with Coral dust (also used to dust rose bushes) by parting the wool down the center of the back and pouring on the dust - about 3 Tbl. per adult alpaca or 1 Tbl./100 lbs. One method of applying the dust is to put the dosage into a mustard bottle and squeeze it out own the spine. Sevin, also a dust, is also used in the treatment of lice. If lice is diagnosed in the herd, it could be treated by putting the Seven in the alpaca’s dust bowls. The alpacas enjoy rolling in it and dust themselves.

Ticks can also infest alpacas, but the tick type is dependent upon the geographical area. The Rocky Mountain wood tick causing tick paralysis is not found in this Midwest area. Ticks attach to their host and feed on the blood.  Remove a tick carefully and perhaps treat the bite with hydrogen peroxide.  

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                                                                Vaccinations:
     General Info: The following is provided as information only. *Source of info: Washington State University, College of Vet Medicine.
- All vaccinations are “off label” in alpacas as the population of alpaca in North America is still very small, therefore effectiveness and safety are not guaranteed by the manufacturers. Consult with your veterinarian to determine an appropriate vaccination protocol.
-  Avoid modified-live vaccines in pregnant animals.  
-  Vaccines may not completely prevent infections but often moderate the disease symptoms experienced by the animal.
-  Vaccinations should be used to complement not replace management techniques for disease prevention. 
-  Individual animal response to a vaccine is variable and can be affected by many factors such as stress, immune status at time of vaccination, and proper storage and administration of the vaccine.  A sick animal will not respond as well as a healthy animal.  Vaccinate a week or two prior to a stressful event such as shipping or weaning.
-  Initial vaccinations generally require boosters to generate adequate protection due to the need to prime the immune system and the potential for interference from waning maternal colostral antibodies.
     Commonly Used Vaccinations:
CD/T
-  Clostridium perfringens type C, D, and C. tetani
-  A commonly used vaccine.  C. perfringens has been implicated in diarrhea and sudden deaths in crias and occasionally adults.  All animals are at risk for tetanus following infection primarily through wounds, castrations, etc. 
-  One common vaccination schedule is vaccination of adults yearly; pregnant females 4-6 weeks prior to parturition; crias at 3-4 months old and again 4 weeks later then yearly thereafter.  Other protocols are also used and can be tailored to suit individual farm situations.  
 
Clostridium Perfringens Type A Toxoid
-  Recently developed vaccine for use in cattle.
-  Evaluated at WSU VTH on alpacas
-  No vaccine site reactions were seen.  
-  This product was NOT evaluated on pregnant animals.
-  Titers were measured and results indicated an immune response occurred but the degree of protection provided is unknown at this time. 
 
Other Clostridial Vaccines
-  “7-way” and “8-way” clostridial vaccines available.  The number refers to the number of diseases the vaccine prevents. 
-  Vaccinates against a broad spectrum of clostridial bacteria. 
-  Some contain tetanus.
-  Vaccine site reactions have been reported with some products.

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West Nile Virus
-  Alpacas are considered at low risk of developing clinical signs after infection with this virus.  However the most common signs of infection are neurological usually progressing to death of the animal even with intensive medical treatments.
-  Only consider use in areas with known West Nile virus.
-  Adverse reactions to the vaccine have ranged from mild injection site reactions to anaphylaxis.  Try to avoid vaccinating breeding females within 60 days of breeding or 30 days of parturition.
-  There are two vaccine products that have been used in alpacas: Ft. Dodge West Nile-Innovator® - Research showed 3 doses, 3 weeks apart, generated the highest titer response. Challenge studies evaluating vaccine protection in camelids have not been performed.
- Merial Recombitek Equine WNV vaccine® - No published research but the product has been evaluated on alpacas.   
 
Leptospirosis (Lepto)
-  Consider in areas where the disease is endemic.  May need to re-vaccinate up to 3-4 times a year.
-  Clinical signs vary from fever and anorexia, kidney and liver damage, and abortions.
-  There are many serovars or types of Leptospira.  Vaccines only include the more common serovars found in cattle so protection may be incomplete.  
-  Prevention can be increased by limiting rodent and wildlife contact and vaccinating dogs that may have contact with the herd.
    
Rabies
-  There are currently no licensed vaccines for use in alpacas. Rabies has been reported in camelids. In the state of Massachusetts, the rabies vaccination is not required for alpacas at the time of this posting.
-  Rabies vaccinations can only be performed by veterinarians.  
-  Consider yearly vaccinations in endemic areas which can be given as early as 3-6 months of age.
-  Proof of vaccination may not be sufficient if an animal is exposed leading to quarantine or euthanasia.    

Equine Herpes Virus 1
is disease has been infrequently reported in camelids.  Infected animals exhibit neurological signs needed, use the killed vaccine product and vaccinate every 12 weeks.

3. Physical Assessment
Hands-on physical assessment of each animal should be done regularly, at least twice a year.  This should include weighing and/or body scoring (See Fig. A), mucous membrane color check (inner eyelid or gums), condition of incisors, and fiber coat evaluation. Weight loss, body score changes, pale color, listlessness or clumped stool should be cause for a more detailed health assessment such as fecal analysis, veterinary exam, and blood analysis. Excess weight gain should prompt a review of diet and activity.

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                                                 Body Condition Scoring  (BCS)
For alpacas, BCS should be done by firm palpation of spine and ribs. Fiber can distort body contour and be misleading. Only by hands on BCS can one determine if the animal is fit, fat or thin. Values based on a scale of 1-10, or 1 to 5, palpate backbone in mid-back & ribs behind forearm.

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• Retained Head
• Retained Feet
• Transverse (four legs and head extended)
• Upside Down
• Elbow Lock

Uterine torsion is another common problem. This can happen when mom rolls around on the ground as alpacas like to do and can twist the uterus which will prevent the birth of the fetus. Uterine torsion can happen as early as about seven months into parturition but more commonly happens during the last month of gestation.

One of the best ways to know if mom is having difficulty during gestation is to know her habits and reactions. Know her personality. If mom starts kicking at her stomach this could be an indication she is having colic. If mom is the first one to greet you on your arrival in the pasture but hangs back all of a sudden this could be another indication she is in distress.

If you suspect your dam is having difficulty during any of the three stages of labor do not wait to call your veterinarian. Cultivate relationships with your local alpaca breeders. In the event your veterinarian is unable to get to your farm an experienced breeder could be the difference in a difficult situation for your dam and cria.

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   SHEARING: In warm to hot and especially humid climates, shear the fleece of the alpaca and thick or long fibered llamas every year. Animals with matted fleece should be shorn if prevention of heat stress or control of infestation by external parasites are issues in their environment.

    GELDING: Geld non-breeder males at between 18-24 months recommended. Most geldings may be safely penned with either males or females once sufficient time has passed after gelding to ensure infertility. (To be safe, about 2 months.)

   BREEDING: Do not breed animals with genetic defects or place them into situations where they can reproduce.

   INJURY: Provide immediate veterinary care for an ill or injured alpaca, including dental care if the animals’ ability to properly process food is compromised.

   SAFE HANDLING: Fit halters on alpacas so that the nose-piece allows for chewing, yet cannot slide down onto the soft cartilage of the nose and cut off breathing. Crown piece should be snug, holding the nose-band in place. Improperly fitted halters can be life-threatening because, unlike some animals, camelids must breathe through their noses. Avoid wrapping a lead rope around your hands or body in order to prevent serious injury in the event a llama or alpaca suddenly takes flight. Because they are often transported, train alpacas to halter, lead, and load into a transport vehicle. This will result in less stress and simplify transport activities. Exercise great caution when transporting alpacas during extreme weather, either hot or cold. The transport vehicle must be well-ventilated, and it is essential to check for signs of heat stress (flared nostrils, lethargy) and/or hypothermia (shivering) at reasonable intervals, both while on the move and when parked. Leave alpacas untied during transport. Alpacas tied during transport can suffer severe injury or death. On rare occasions, it may be prudent to tie animals for safety, as when transporting in a vehicle they could jump out of (not recommended). Do not leave llamas or alpacas unattended in a livestock chute. Select only alpacas that interact appropriately with people for use in making direct contact with the public. Props and settings should be safe for the animal, the handler and the public. Spitting is part of a highly sophisticated body language used by camelids to express displeasure, to establish and maintain social order in the herd, and to respond to a serious threat. Camelids accustomed to positive interaction with people will not normally spit at humans.

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SAFEKEEPING
1. Never leave halters on unsupervised alpacas when they are released to their living environment.
2. With proper halter fit, animals that have been trained for tethered grazing can usually be left unsupervised for short periods of time, such as while on a pack trip, but must not be left staked out full time.
3. Intact males, if kept together, should normally be penned according to age, size, and disposition. Their behavior should be monitored to guard against excessive fighting. When fighting or intimidation threatens any individual llama or alpaca with malnutrition or serious injury, change the grouping.
4. Examine the “fighting” teeth of group-housed males at least once each year and trim when needed to prevent injury to one another.
5. Provide multiple feeding stations to ensure that passive animals have equal access to hay and to reduce possible conflict over food.
6. Intact males, beginning at 6-8 months of age, should be kept separate from females of all ages. It is possible for a precocious male to impregnate a female. Exception: a stud kept with his females for breeding purposes. 
7. When introducing a female with a cria at her side to a stud for breeding, take care to ensure that the stud does not breed or injure the youngster.
8. For the safety of other livestock, blunt the canine or “fighting teeth” of male llamas and alpacas as soon as they fully erupt through the gum line. This generally occurs after two years of age. Trim every 1-2 years until teeth no longer grow (7-8 years old).
9. Alpacas must be safeguarded against eating poisonous plants or other dangerous materials, both at home and on the roadside or trail. Owners and caretakers of alpacas should make a point of becoming knowledgeable about the plants that are
toxic or deadly poisonous.
10. Camelids must never be used for human activities that will inevitably lead to the animal’s trauma and/or death, such as being hunted, used for roping practice, or used as live prey for “ranch” predators. 
11. The rare alpaca that becomes completely unmanageable should be placed with an experienced rescue person or group, rather than given away or sold without disclosure of the problem.
12. Hyperthermia (HEAT STRESS) and hypothermia are life-threatening conditions requiring immediate recognition and response, at home or while traveling.
    nitial and often subtle signs of heat stress are elevation of core temperature over 104 F (normal is 99.5- 101.5 F), heart rate over 80/minute (normal is 48-68 beats/minute), increased respiratory rate over 40/minute (normal is 10-30 breaths/minute), panting, flared nostrils, lethargy, decreased appetite, reddened
skin, and swollen scrotum. Intervene with rapid cooling, using cool or cold water, on front of neck, legs, armpits, underbelly. groin and under tail. Do not wet topline. Also use shade, fans and cool drinking water. Important: Use a rectal thermometer to monitor core temperature of afflicted animal as treatment progresses, as well as to check temperatures of other animals in herd. Consult your veterinarian for assistance.
     Far more ominous signs of advanced heat stress are decreased urination progressing to renal shutdown, open mouth breathing, trembling, weakness, abortion, decreased mental function, and convulsions. Death can follow quickly without immediate veterinary intervention. 
 
NOTE: Heat stress risk is higher in (but not limited to) humid areas. Factors such as obesity, heavily matted fiber, age (old or very young), illness and strenuous exercise add to the risk in any region. When it is hot, check your animals carefully!

13. Hypothermia can occur when temperatures dip to extremes. Wind and wet weather, combined with low temperatures, greatly increase the danger of hypothermia. Most at risk are newborns, who have minimal insulation and poor thermo-regulation, and the very old, very thin or light-fibered animal. Signs include decreased body temperature, shivering, decreased heart rate, depression and, in extreme cases, slow and shallow breathing. Intervention includes providing deep straw bedding in a dry shelter with protection from wind, blankets, coats, hair dryers to warm wet exposed areas such as ears, lukewarm drinking water and close proximity to the warmth of other animals. Warm water enemas may be helpful in severe cases. Alpacas and llamas may need extra calories from supplements (e.g., corn) in very cold weather, but use in moderation to prevent acidosis.
 
Shearing the fiber in early springtime, ahead of severe heat, is a preventive for heat stress and also gives time for adequate fiber to grow for winter warmth.

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Miscellaneous Products Health Concerns:

Coccidia

Coccidia is very species specific. There are four species known to be found in lamas, eimeria alpacae, lamae, macusanienis, and punoensis.

It is difficult to distinguish between e. alpacae and e. lamae as they only differ in size by ~ 10 microns and both are treated effectively with Corid. E. macusanienis is easily identified by its avocado shape and is quite large and is best treated with Albon. There have not yet been any e. punensis in an alpaca.

The recommended dosage for amprolium (the active ingredient in Corid) is 10mg/# of BW for 5 days. The preventative dose is 2.5mg/# for 21 days. The administration directions on the 9.6% solution is for cattle and is calculated assuming that cattle will drink 1 gallon of water per 100#'s of BW. Alpacas will consume ~ .5 to .75 gallons of water per 100#'s of BW. Consumption can vary depending on the ambient conditions and the available forage. It may be wise to estimate the daily water intake slightly and use the rate of .5 gal per 100# BW.

The 9.6% (.096) solution means that a liter of the solution will contain 96g of Amprolium and 1ml will contain 96mg. A one gallon container of Corid contains 363.36g of Amprolium (96g x 3.785).

First you should know the total weight of the animals that you are treating. You will also need to know the weight to calculate the estimated water consumption.

Example: Total BW = 2,200#
Treatment dosage 10mg/#, 2,200 x 10mg/# = 22,000mg or 2.2g needed to treat the herd
22,000mg divided by 96mg/ml = 229ml needed to treat the herd or 229ml divided by 30ml/fl oz = 7.6fl oz needed to treat the herd for one day.

Make your calculations for every group of animals.

Now you need to get the Amprolium in the alpaca. There have not been many published  numbers on the water consumption of alpacas, but consumption can vary depending on the ambient conditions and the available forage. It may be best to under estimate the daily water intake slightly and use the rate of .5 gal per 100# BW. In this example, the herd is estimated to consume 11 gal per day (2,200/100 x .5). The more buckets of water that are offered; the greater the chance that everyone will get the required dosage.

Amprolium is a thiamine analog and competitively inhibits the active transport of thiamine. The coccidia are 50 times as sensitive to this inhibition as is the host.

Should you choose to supplement B vitamins during treatment it is not recommended to give orally as it will offset the the oral coccidial treatment. Many probiotics contain B vitamins.

Dr. Evans recommends 20-25 mg/lb of body weight of Amprolium for the treatment of coccidia. It is most commonly  dosed at a rate of 10mg/# which has been the recommended dosage. With 96mg/ml, an alpaca weighing 100#'s would require ~10ml of 9.6% Corid solution for a daily dose (100# x 10mg/# divided by 9.6mg/ml).

Vets have also recommended the 5mg/lb, but may not be afraid to go with 10mg/lb for heavy infestation. Alpacas also don't drink as much water as cattle so treating a herd with treated water could lead to under dosing if all the water is not consumed when given at the cattle rate of 1gal/100lbs. My experience is that alpacas drink 1/2 - 3/4 gal/100lbs of BW.

Albon. also used to treat coccidia, is available in a 12.5% solution. Each ml contains 125mg of sulfadimethoxine. I have always used this product at the recommended label dosage of 25mg/# on day 1 and 12.5mg/# for 4 days. An alpaca weighing 75#'s would require 15ml for the first day and half that amount on the next 4 days (75# x 25mg/# divided by 125mg/ml). It has been noted that Albon may be the preffered treatment for cria.

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Urinary:  Chanca piedra